Cool-down cargo likely headed for Golden Pass LNG

Trump pledges to 'finish the job' quickly in Iran

Trump pledges to 'finish the job' quickly in Iran

Washington, 1 April (Argus) — President Donald Trump on Wednesday said the US is on track to finish all of its military objectives in the war against Iran "very shortly", but he again called on other countries dependent on Mideast Gulf oil to figure out how to reopen the strait of Hormuz. In his first prime time address to the US public since launching the war with Iran on 28 February, Trump made no new announcements about his plans for the course of the conflict. US armed forces have achieved "overwhelming victories on the battlefield", Trump said. Even so, Trump said he expects the war will continue for weeks, during continued negotiations with Iran and despite his claim earlier in the day that Tehran had asked for a ceasefire. "We're going to hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks," Trump vowed. "We're going to bring them back to the stone ages, where they belong." Trump used the speech to repeat messages he had posted over the last few days on his social media platform. Countries that depend on oil shipped through the strait of Hormuz should "build up some delayed courage", Trump said, and take control of the waterway where 20pc of global oil flows. "They must grab it and cherish it," Trump said. "They can do it easily. We will be helpful, but they should take the lead in protecting the oil that they so desperately depend on." Trump openly mocked those countries that refused to join the US war effort and now can not get enough oil with the strait largely closed to traffic. "I have a suggestion: Buy oil from the United States of America," Trump said. "We have plenty. We have so much." And Trump mused that when the conflict ends, "the strait will open up naturally", since Iran will want to sell oil to rebuild. Trump acknowledged that many in the US are "concerned" to see gasoline prices rising, which he blamed "entirely" on the attacks Iran launched on tankers and neighboring countries. Trump said the war in Iran was not so long, when compared with other wars. Trump's national address comes at a time when Republicans are facing declining popularity over the war and its economic ramifications. The conflict has undercut a central message that Trump's policies have lowered prices at the pump and eased inflation. US motorists are now paying $1.05/USG more for gasoline and $1.59/USG more for diesel than they were before the war began. EU countries have begun to slash growth forecasts for 2026 and 2027 in response to surging commodity prices caused by the closure of the strait of Hormuz. Ryanair chief executive on Wednesday warned the budget airline and other European carriers may need to start cutting flights if the strait remains closed. US allies are confronting a position of dealing with the political fallout of rising prices for a war they did not initiate. "This is not our war," UK prime minister Keir Starmer said on Wednesday. "We will not be drawn into the conflict. That is not in our national interest." The most effective way to ease surging prices, Starmer said, is to push for "de-escalation in the Middle East". The long-term national interest of the UK will require "closer partnership with our allies in Europe and with the European Union", he said. Trump and his cabinet have signaled plans to pull back from Nato, out of their view that members of the defense alliance have failed to offer enough support in the war against Iran. The administration plans to review if remaining in Nato is still serving US interests, US secretary of state Marco Rubio said. "There is no doubt, unfortunately, after this conflict is concluded, we are going to have to re-examine that relationship," Rubio said in an interview on Fox News on Tuesday. Trump can not pull the US out of Nato without an affirmative vote by two thirds of the US Senate, under a 2023 law that was enacted in response to Trump's threats during his first term to exit the defense alliance. US senators Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) and Chris Coons (D-Delaware) on Wednesday said the Senate would continue to support Nato. By Chris Knight Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.